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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. The voice between soprano and alto. Also - in sheet music - a direction for the tempo to be played at medium speed.






2. To hold a tone or rest held beyond the written value at the discretion of the performer.






3. The performance of either all instruments of an orchestra or voices in a chorus.






4. A direction to play lively and fast.






5. A composition written for a solo instrument. The soloist plays the melody while the orchestra plays the accompaniment.






6. Piece of instrumental music played between scenes in a play or opera.






7. A contrapuntal song written for at least three voices - usually without accompaniment.






8. A song or hymn celebrating Christmas.






9. Sliding between two notes.






10. An instrumental lament with praise for the dead.






11. One who directs a group of performers. The conductor indicates the tempo - phrasing - dynamics - and style by gestures and facial expressions.






12. First developed in the 8th century - methods of writing music.






13. Two notes that differ in name only. The notes occupy the same position.For example: C sharp and D flat.






14. A set of six musicians who perform a composition written for six parts.






15. Combination of two or more keys being played at the same time.






16. A short piano piece - often improvisational and intimate in character.






17. A quick 20th century dance written in double time.






18. Combination of two or more keys being played at the same time.






19. A set of seven musicians who perform a composition written for seven parts.






20. A person with notable technical skill in the performance of music.






21. Often used in overtures - a composition that uses passages from other movements of the composition in its entirety.






22. The range of an instrumental or a vocal part.






23. The distance in pitch between two notes.






24. A piece of music played at the end of a recital responding to the audiences enthusiastic reaction to the performance - shown by continuous applause.






25. Suite of Baroque dances.






26. A harmonic given off by a note when it is played.






27. Tones used to embellish the principal melodic tone.






28. Indicating speed.






29. Groups of tones that are harmonious when sounded together as in a chord.






30. A scale consisting of only whole-tone notes. Such a scale consists of only 6 notes.






31. A short light musical drama.






32. Two or three melodic lines played at the same time.






33. A composition written for eight instruments.






34. A symbol indicating that the note is to be diminished by one semitone.






35. Eight full tones above the key note where the scale begins and ends.






36. The highest female voice.






37. Music written to be sung or played in unison.






38. A composition whose style is simple and idyllic; suggestive of rural scenes.






39. A combination of two or more staves on which all the notes are vertically aligned and performed simultaneously in differing registers and instruments.






40. To repeat a previous part of a composition generally after other music has been played.






41. A whole note is equal to 2 half notes - 4 quarter notes - 8 eighth notes - etc.






42. The structure of a piece of music.






43. The frequency of a note determining how high or low it sounds.






44. A group of 4 instruments - two violins - a viola - and cello.






45. Music that is written and performed without regard to any specific key.






46. Music that is easy to listen to and understand.






47. The manner in which tones are produced with regard to pitch.






48. Ability to determine the pitch of a note as it relates to the notes that precede and follow it.






49. Groups of tones that are harmonious when sounded together as in a chord.






50. Pertaining to the loudness or softness of a musical composition. Also the symbols in sheet music indicating volume.